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34<br />
35<br />
THE DESERT IS CALLING<br />
Forging a Path Together:<br />
MESA'S Hawes Trail Alliance<br />
A group of outdoor enthusiasts<br />
united over a shared passion for<br />
<strong>Mesa</strong>’s Sonoran Desert beauty —<br />
and ignited preservation efforts<br />
to ensure future generations can<br />
explore this landscape for years<br />
to come.<br />
Jessica Dunham<br />
Jessica Dunham is a Phoenix-based<br />
writer, covering travel and the<br />
outdoors. She’s also the author of<br />
three books: Route 66 Road Trip, The<br />
Open Road: 50 Best Road Trips in the<br />
USA and the forthcoming 52 Things<br />
to Do in Phoenix and Tucson.<br />
“There was so much potential to build<br />
a great system of trails in our own<br />
backyard,” says Stapley. “And when we<br />
met with the Forest Service, the county<br />
and the city, we found overwhelming<br />
support and encouragement.”<br />
In 2018, the Hawes Trail Alliance was<br />
officially formed as a 501c-3 non-profit<br />
with Stapley, Taylor, Petrocelli and<br />
Norberg named as co-founders.<br />
A COMMUNITY<br />
COMES TOGETHER<br />
In a few short years, the efforts of<br />
the Hawes Trail Alliance have yielded<br />
impressive results.<br />
Tommy Stapley has been an avid<br />
cyclist for decades. The <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
resident travels the country to<br />
hit mountain bike trails in Utah,<br />
Colorado and California. But his<br />
favorite spot to get a little dirt<br />
under his tires? The Hawes Trail<br />
System, right here in <strong>Mesa</strong>. The<br />
62-mile labyrinth of recreational<br />
trails weaves through the cactusstudded<br />
vistas of Tonto National<br />
Forest, and is ringed by Usery<br />
Pass Road, Power Road and Bush Highway. On any given day you’ll find hikers, bikers and horseback riders<br />
traversing its paths. “The Hawes Trail System is the best desert trail network in the Southwest,” Stapley<br />
says. “The diverse topography, views of Red Mountain and year-round accessibility… There’s nothing like it<br />
anywhere.” Fellow cyclists Grant Taylor, Crystal Petrocelli and Michael Norberg have been riding these desert<br />
tracks for years, too, and know this slice of heaven is something special. But unlike other trail networks,<br />
the Hawes System had no organization maintaining it. That’s when Stapley, Taylor, Petrocelli and Norberg<br />
decided to form one themselves.<br />
THE DREAM REALIZED<br />
The Alliance developed a Master<br />
Plan approved by the National Forest<br />
Service; upgraded 24 miles of existing<br />
trails; built 27 miles of new trails;<br />
added signage at 50 trail intersections;<br />
installed safety gates at six access<br />
points; and has been conducting<br />
bi-monthly maintenance.<br />
But none of this could have been<br />
accomplished without the <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
community rallying around the cause.<br />
Explains Norberg: “We’ve been able to<br />
partner with businesses that want to<br />
provide meaningful service—getting<br />
on the trails and “getting dirty” with<br />
physical work—and also with high<br />
school and development cycling groups<br />
who volunteer their time.”<br />
With an all-hands-on-deck approach to<br />
recreating responsibly and caring for<br />
the desert everyone loves, the Hawes<br />
Trail Alliance has logged more than<br />
5,500 volunteer hours and raised more<br />
than $350,000.<br />
Seven miles of new trails are currently<br />
under development and will be open to<br />
users in spring <strong>2022</strong>. Also underway is<br />
connectivity to other trails that cross<br />
the Hawes System—the link to Usery<br />
Pass Regional Park should hopefully be<br />
completed next year.<br />
The Alliance is also raising funds to<br />
build three parking areas and three<br />
trailheads, and it’s working with the<br />
Environmental Protection Agency on<br />
an assessment to ensure all plans<br />
receive environmental and historical<br />
archaeological clearance.<br />
“The Hawes Trail System is an<br />
incredible way to start each day,” says<br />
Stapley. “It’s why I love living in <strong>Mesa</strong>.<br />
And now, we’ve been able to create a<br />
world-class trail system for everyone.”<br />
For news and updates, trail maps,<br />
trail etiquette, plus information on how<br />
to volunteer or donate, visit the Hawes<br />
Trail Alliance website:<br />
hawestrailalliance.com.<br />
In 2017, the group began talks about establishing an alliance<br />
that would not only enhance the current trails of the Hawes<br />
System, but one that would also grow the trail network.<br />
The group’s goal was three-fold: preserve the existing footprint<br />
with trail maintenance and sustainability stewardship; promote<br />
safety through signage and education about trail etiquette;<br />
and inspire multi-use engagement by creating diverse trails of<br />
varying difficulty.<br />
The first order of business? A call to the mayor.<br />
“One of the benefits of the Alliance,”<br />
adds Taylor, “is bringing together local<br />
and federal agencies with businesses<br />
that all want to encourage healthy<br />
outdoor lifestyles.”<br />
VISION FOR THE FUTURE<br />
So what’s next for the Hawes Trail<br />
Alliance’s Master Plan?<br />
And recently the Alliance teamed up<br />
with Invitation Homes—the largest<br />
single-family rental company in the<br />
United States—on a three-year plan<br />
where Invitation Homes will donate<br />
$50,000 annually to the Alliance.<br />
VISIT MESA<br />
GATEWAY TO ADVENTURE:<br />
THE APACHE<br />
TRAIL<br />
ADVENTURE<br />
EXPLORER<br />
GUIDE<br />
Recognized by the Arizona Office of Tourism as one of the most<br />
scenic byways in the state, the historic Apache Trail, just east of<br />
<strong>Mesa</strong>, was built more than 100 years ago serving as a main access<br />
way to the Roosevelt Dam construction site. Named for the crews<br />
of Apache Native Americans who helped pave this treacherous<br />
path, the Apache Trail was completed in 1905 at a cost of more than<br />
one-half mi lion do lars. Today, hitting the historic Apache Trail is<br />
sti l one of the most popular day trips for anyone visiting the Valley<br />
with inviting attractions lining the trail. As you pass the mysterious<br />
Superstition Mountains and head into the foothi ls of the Tonto<br />
National Forest, the area continues to pay homage to its Western<br />
roots which took shape in the late 1800s.<br />
APACHE TRAIL ATTRACTIONS<br />
APACHE TRAIL TOURS<br />
480.982.7661 | apachetrailtours.com<br />
DOLLY STEAMBOAT AT CANYON LAKE MARINA<br />
480.827.9144 | do lysteamboat.com<br />
GOLDFIELD GHOST TOWN FEATURING SUPERSTITION ZIPLINE<br />
480.983.0333 | goldfieldghosttown.com<br />
LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK<br />
480.982.4485 | azstateparks.com<br />
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN MUSEUM<br />
480.983.4888 | superstitionmountainmuseum.org<br />
TORTILLA FLAT SALOON & AUTHENTIC OLD WEST STAGECOACH STOP<br />
480.984.1776 | tortillaflataz.com<br />
LOCATION: LOST DUTCHMAN STATE PARK<br />
GETTING THERE | To access the 40+-mile Apache Trail (64 kilometres) from<br />
<strong>Mesa</strong>, head east on Main Street or east along the U.S. 60 to the Idaho Road<br />
exit. Off Idaho Road, follow signs toward Highway 88. The trail wi l weave<br />
you pas three lakes – Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt. Paved road ends at<br />
Tortilla Flat. Take caution while driving, the trail features numerous switchbacks<br />
throughout the entire route that connects <strong>Mesa</strong> to Globe.<br />
“I knew this project had great potential and I was eager to<br />
support the goals of the Hawes Trail Alliance right out of the<br />
gate,” says City of <strong>Mesa</strong> Mayor, John Giles. “This area of <strong>Mesa</strong><br />
is stunning—it’s a true point of pride for our city and more than<br />
worthy of preservation.”<br />
The conversation then expanded to include Maricopa County<br />
and Tonto National Forest.<br />
DISCOVER MORE DESERT FUN WHEN YOU DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL<br />
ADVENTURE EXPLORER GUIDE<br />
Download the Adventure Explorer <strong>Guide</strong> at Visit<strong>Mesa</strong>.com. The digital guide outlines even more ways to discover<br />
the unique and exotic terrain on display in the Sonoran Desert with lists for Birding, Desert Wildlife, Desert Vegetation<br />
and more.<br />
visitmesa.com<br />
<strong>2022</strong> <strong>Visitors</strong> <strong>Guide</strong> | Adventure Explorer | 13